I don't know where this widespread myth originated from. The myth that Macs do not get viruses. Macs are computers, and like any computer, they can have vulnerabilities, and there are always people who want to get into your computer and steal your data. And they will always find ways to infect devices, including Macs, with malicious software.
Avast for Mac is an anti-virus or anti-malware program that helps prevent and get rid of malicious attacks on your Mac computer. This particular version of the software is made specifically for the Mac OS. In this Avast for Mac review, we'll go into detail about how this software can protect or save your Mac from malware. Avast offers several scans to improve your Mac's security. A deep scan on the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch that I use for testing took just 20 minutes. The average for recent products is almost 40. Avast Antivirus offers a free suite of software and features that you typically only find in paid products. Premium versions extend the product's abilities toward total protection for your device and data. Avast anti-virus for Mac review Prague-based Avast is one of the most famous cybersecurity companies, and is the developer behind arguably the most popular anti-virus program Avast anti-virus. Avast is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
However, it is true that the quantity of malware programsfor Macs created every year is significantly lower than the same amount forPCs.
Every day, the AV-TEST Institute registers over 350,000 new malicious programs (malware) and potentially unwanted applications (PUA).
In 2019, there were 89.68 mln malware programs developed for Windows and 3.17mln for Android. For comparison, there were only 60K malware programs for macOS: about 1500 times less than for Windows and 52 times less than for Android.
So, while macOS is much safer (because it is being targeted less), there are still 60K programs being created to harm Macs every year.
Avast Antivirus is a mostly-great product that will absolutely keep your computer secure. Its free version offers a huge amount of security, although usability issues make it difficult to access some of its more granular features without getting besieged by pleas for an upgrade.
My point is Macs do get viruses, and the question is, what should you do to protect them?
There is a significant list of antimalware solutions available for macOS. Among them, ClamXAV, Bitdefender, Intego, Norton, Malwarebytes, and Avast. If you don't know how to choose from a such variety check my post on how to do it properly.
In this post, we will do a full review of Avast Security forMac, both free and paid versions.
But before we move forward, let's address the safety and trust questions.
Is Avast Security for Mac Safe?
According to multiple antivirus testing labs (AV-Test,AV-Comparatives), Avast for Mac is considered as a legitimate antimalwareprogram. So, it is safe to install either free or paid versions. However, therewere reports that Avast was selling user data to various organizations.
Does Avast Sell Your Data?
Avast was selling the data about user's behavior on the internet (including Google searches) since 2013 when they acquired the company called Jumpshot.
They claimed that the data was anonymized before being sold to interested parties, but the damage to the reputation was already done. Some tools even decided to label Avast as spyware. Mozilla and Opera browsers removed the software from their bundles.
After the data collection practices were discovered, the company decided to shutdown Jumpshot. However, it is not clear if they stopped collecting user data or not.
So, at this time, the company is not selling data, but nobody knows what can happen in the future. And it's up to users to decide whether Avast can be trusted or not. To learn more, read the Privacy policy on their site.
Is Avast for Mac any Good?
To answer this question, let's check the testing reportsfrom two independent research labs. I could've read user reviews, or base theresearch on articles from bloggers (Avast affiliates), but I only trustcompanies which perform AV testing professionally.
There are multiple AV testing labs, but only two providetests for Macs.
Is It Good According to AV-Test?
AV-TEST GmbH is an independent IT security research institute from Germany. They do not recommend any products but produce the test results free of charge, and it's a job of a consumer to decide which AV is the best.
The latest Avast product review can be found here: Avast Home User Products.
AV-Test tests security programs in three categories:Protection, Performance, and Usability. The highest score in each category is6.
In the latest test, Avast was given the highest score in protection against malware infections (viruses, worms, and/or Trojans). It was able to detect 100% of threats in the test samples, higher than the industry average of 99%.
In the Performance test, which gauges the impact of the product on the system, Avast was also awarded the perfect score of 6.
The effect of the antivirus on the speed of downloads, installing and launching apps, and copying files, was between 1-4%, which is lower than the industry average.
And finally, Avast excelled in the Usability test, whichmeasures false positives (false detection of legit software as malware, ordisplaying unnecessary warnings).
However, it is helpful to see things in perspective. Whilethe last results were impressive, over the years Avast did not consistently getgood marks in some of the tests:
Is It Good According to AV-Comparatives?
AV-Comparatives is an antimalware testing lab based in Austria, and the certifications it awards are globally recognized.
According to the AV-Comparatives, in the latest tests, Avast received an Approved Security Product award along with products such as Avira, Bitdefender, CrowdStrike, F-Secure, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro.
In the lab's main test, Real-World Protection Test, Avastwas able to achieve Advanced level, which is higher than Standard, but lowerthan Advanced+.
I have to note that Avast Security program performance inAV-Comparatives tests has also fluctuated over the years.
So, if you read this article two-three years after its publication, I suggest checking the latest results from both labs, so that you have freshest data.
Did someone else test Avast?
Well, I did. I was lucky to find a place with hundreds of malware targeting Mac users. And I was dumb enough to download all of them on my MacBook and test 13 antimalware products.
What did I find? I found that Avast is not the best in the class. It missed a few malware samples.
I also found two (or strictly speaking only one) antivirus programs which detected and removed all viruses, including trojans, worms, adware and ransomware.
A link to the post with the results of my test and the name of the winners is down below in Conclusion.
Avast Security for Mac Review
Installation
The free download of Avast Security for Mac is availablefrom the company web site avast.com.
- On Mac, the install media will be saved as a DMG file in the Downloads folder.
- Just run the installer from there.
- Double click on Install Avast Security.pkg file and keep clicking on the Continue button where appropriate.
- Agree to terms of the software license.
- Hit the Install button. The software will download the latest virus definitions.
- Enter the password when the installer tries to install new software.
- At the end of install Mac's System Security will pop up a message if you want to install System Extension.
- Open System Preferences, click on the padlock icon and then click Allow.
- While you are in System Preferences app, click on the Privacy tab, select Full Disk Access on the left pane, then find Avast in the right pane and check the box next to the app name.
What's interesting about the installation is that it didn'task for my email or any other information like almost all other free apps.
Scanning
Once the antivirus is installed, you should run the scan.
If you didn't give Full Disk Access during installation, theapp would ask it again during the scan. This is expected from any antimalwareprogram.
How long does it take to finish the initial scan depends onthe size of the disk. Just minimize the app and keep doing what you were doing.Avast does take some CPU resources, but do not slow down other processes on Mac.
On my MacBook Pro Avast scanned 159095 files in 10 minutesand 45 seconds with default settings.
It classified one of the Mail attachments as a threat andoffered to resolve the issue by moving it to the Virus Chest.
Virus Chest
Avast uses a special isolated space called Virus Chest tocontain the infected files. The files get automatically moved there during thescan.
You can also add files manually.
Sometimes, the file can be placed in Virus Chest by mistake.In this case, you can restore it by opening the Virus Chest from the mainwindow, scroll and find the file. When the file is selected, you can see thetrash icon and three dots next to it.
To restore the file, click on three dots, and in thedrop-down menu, select either Restore or Restore as action. Restore as actionlets to restore the file in a user-specified location. Both actions requireentering the admin password.
Is it safe to delete files from the Avast virus chest? Clicking on the Trash icon in the chest deletes the file permanently. It does not go to MacBook Trash, so they will be gone forever. The only option after removing the file is to try special tools such as Disk Drill, but the results are not guaranteed.
Core Shields
Several protection components in the app block malware in real-time. They are called Core Shields, and they include File, Web, and Mail.
File Shield
This is the main layer of protection, and this is the core functionality you expect from any antivirus to do in real-time. Every time any file gets saved, copied, modified, it gets triggered.
It also scans the files when they get opened or executed. If malware detected during a file scan, the shield protects the Mac from being infected.
Web Shield
As the name suggests, it protects a user when she browsesthe internet from downloading malware or executing malicious scripts.
Mail Shield
This is the final component. It scans incoming (andoutgoing) messages in the email clients, such as Mail.app or Microsoft Outlook.It does not scan Gmail when the user accesses it from the browser. Browser, asI mentioned above, is protected by Web Shield.
By default, all shields will be enabled, but they can bedisabled at any time.
For instance, the Mail Shield had problems with the MacMyths.com mail server.
Basically, Avast told me that I might be connected to a server that pretends to be my mail server in order to get confidential information. And all my accounts went offline.
I had to turn off Mail Shield and turn all accounts backonline.
Configuration
It is possible to use the antivirus as is with the defaultsettings, but I suggest to check some configuration settings anyway.
Click on the Menu button in the top right corner of the appscreen, and then click on Preferences.
Avast Antivirus For Mac Review
General
In this section, make sure that the following settings areenabled:
- Turn on automatic updates
- Open Avast Security when computer starts up
Personal Privacy
Remember how the article about the company selling data?Usually, when I download an app, it asks me if I allow sharing my data, but notthis program. All three checkboxes in the Personal Privacy were enabled bydefault. So, go ahead, uncheck all of them.
Core Shields
Enable all settings in this section. Additionally, it ispossible to exclude certain files or web/mail servers from scanning. It isuseful for test servers if you are a developer or the files that you know arenot malware.
Scans and Wi-Fi Inspector
Leave default settings as is.
Ransomware Shield
It's a premium feature, not available in the free version.
Premium Features
As you know, Avast is not a charity company. It's afor-profit corporation, and they make money only when users buy their premiumproducts. They are not making a single penny from their free software.
So, I don't understand people who complain that the company is aggressively promoting Avast Premium Security.
For instance, at the bottom of the main screen of the free app, you can see a bar with a message 'You are not protected in 3 areas'. Clicking on the Resolve button brings another screen with an offer to:
- Protect primary folders from Ransomware
- Monitor Wi-Fi
- Protect from DNS hijacking
All of those features are part of the Premium package, which costs $69/year.
Is the package worth the money?
The only feature, interesting to me, is Ransomware protection. If you don't know what it is, it's malware that encrypts the entire computer disk and then asks money in order to decrypt it again.
One of the examples of Ransomware attack happened in Baltimore when all computers in the city government were compromised, and the city lost all its data.
The best prevention against such attacks, however, is periodic backups. If you keep backing up the Mac, it is easy to restore it later in case of malware attack (assuming the backup drive was not encrypted either).
I have to note that Avast Security program performance inAV-Comparatives tests has also fluctuated over the years.
So, if you read this article two-three years after its publication, I suggest checking the latest results from both labs, so that you have freshest data.
Did someone else test Avast?
Well, I did. I was lucky to find a place with hundreds of malware targeting Mac users. And I was dumb enough to download all of them on my MacBook and test 13 antimalware products.
What did I find? I found that Avast is not the best in the class. It missed a few malware samples.
I also found two (or strictly speaking only one) antivirus programs which detected and removed all viruses, including trojans, worms, adware and ransomware.
A link to the post with the results of my test and the name of the winners is down below in Conclusion.
Avast Security for Mac Review
Installation
The free download of Avast Security for Mac is availablefrom the company web site avast.com.
- On Mac, the install media will be saved as a DMG file in the Downloads folder.
- Just run the installer from there.
- Double click on Install Avast Security.pkg file and keep clicking on the Continue button where appropriate.
- Agree to terms of the software license.
- Hit the Install button. The software will download the latest virus definitions.
- Enter the password when the installer tries to install new software.
- At the end of install Mac's System Security will pop up a message if you want to install System Extension.
- Open System Preferences, click on the padlock icon and then click Allow.
- While you are in System Preferences app, click on the Privacy tab, select Full Disk Access on the left pane, then find Avast in the right pane and check the box next to the app name.
What's interesting about the installation is that it didn'task for my email or any other information like almost all other free apps.
Scanning
Once the antivirus is installed, you should run the scan.
If you didn't give Full Disk Access during installation, theapp would ask it again during the scan. This is expected from any antimalwareprogram.
How long does it take to finish the initial scan depends onthe size of the disk. Just minimize the app and keep doing what you were doing.Avast does take some CPU resources, but do not slow down other processes on Mac.
On my MacBook Pro Avast scanned 159095 files in 10 minutesand 45 seconds with default settings.
It classified one of the Mail attachments as a threat andoffered to resolve the issue by moving it to the Virus Chest.
Virus Chest
Avast uses a special isolated space called Virus Chest tocontain the infected files. The files get automatically moved there during thescan.
You can also add files manually.
Sometimes, the file can be placed in Virus Chest by mistake.In this case, you can restore it by opening the Virus Chest from the mainwindow, scroll and find the file. When the file is selected, you can see thetrash icon and three dots next to it.
To restore the file, click on three dots, and in thedrop-down menu, select either Restore or Restore as action. Restore as actionlets to restore the file in a user-specified location. Both actions requireentering the admin password.
Is it safe to delete files from the Avast virus chest? Clicking on the Trash icon in the chest deletes the file permanently. It does not go to MacBook Trash, so they will be gone forever. The only option after removing the file is to try special tools such as Disk Drill, but the results are not guaranteed.
Core Shields
Several protection components in the app block malware in real-time. They are called Core Shields, and they include File, Web, and Mail.
File Shield
This is the main layer of protection, and this is the core functionality you expect from any antivirus to do in real-time. Every time any file gets saved, copied, modified, it gets triggered.
It also scans the files when they get opened or executed. If malware detected during a file scan, the shield protects the Mac from being infected.
Web Shield
As the name suggests, it protects a user when she browsesthe internet from downloading malware or executing malicious scripts.
Mail Shield
This is the final component. It scans incoming (andoutgoing) messages in the email clients, such as Mail.app or Microsoft Outlook.It does not scan Gmail when the user accesses it from the browser. Browser, asI mentioned above, is protected by Web Shield.
By default, all shields will be enabled, but they can bedisabled at any time.
For instance, the Mail Shield had problems with the MacMyths.com mail server.
Basically, Avast told me that I might be connected to a server that pretends to be my mail server in order to get confidential information. And all my accounts went offline.
I had to turn off Mail Shield and turn all accounts backonline.
Configuration
It is possible to use the antivirus as is with the defaultsettings, but I suggest to check some configuration settings anyway.
Click on the Menu button in the top right corner of the appscreen, and then click on Preferences.
Avast Antivirus For Mac Review
General
In this section, make sure that the following settings areenabled:
- Turn on automatic updates
- Open Avast Security when computer starts up
Personal Privacy
Remember how the article about the company selling data?Usually, when I download an app, it asks me if I allow sharing my data, but notthis program. All three checkboxes in the Personal Privacy were enabled bydefault. So, go ahead, uncheck all of them.
Core Shields
Enable all settings in this section. Additionally, it ispossible to exclude certain files or web/mail servers from scanning. It isuseful for test servers if you are a developer or the files that you know arenot malware.
Scans and Wi-Fi Inspector
Leave default settings as is.
Ransomware Shield
It's a premium feature, not available in the free version.
Premium Features
As you know, Avast is not a charity company. It's afor-profit corporation, and they make money only when users buy their premiumproducts. They are not making a single penny from their free software.
So, I don't understand people who complain that the company is aggressively promoting Avast Premium Security.
For instance, at the bottom of the main screen of the free app, you can see a bar with a message 'You are not protected in 3 areas'. Clicking on the Resolve button brings another screen with an offer to:
- Protect primary folders from Ransomware
- Monitor Wi-Fi
- Protect from DNS hijacking
All of those features are part of the Premium package, which costs $69/year.
Is the package worth the money?
The only feature, interesting to me, is Ransomware protection. If you don't know what it is, it's malware that encrypts the entire computer disk and then asks money in order to decrypt it again.
One of the examples of Ransomware attack happened in Baltimore when all computers in the city government were compromised, and the city lost all its data.
The best prevention against such attacks, however, is periodic backups. If you keep backing up the Mac, it is easy to restore it later in case of malware attack (assuming the backup drive was not encrypted either).
So, to conclude, I wouldn't pay for Premium. In my opinion,the free version is pretty good. It performs very well in malware detection andremoval, and it does provide real-time protection.
Uninstalling Avast antivirus
Since Avast gets access to the various system folder, do noteven try to delete the app by moving it to Trash. That won't work.
To remove the program completely, click on Avast in theApple menu bar. In the drop-down menu, select the Uninstall Avast Securityitem. Enter the admin password if needed. The uninstall process will start, andin the end, all you need is to click on the Quit button.
In case you don't trust Avast to clean up after itself, you can try CleanMyMac or AppCleaner. Both apps will remove the app without leaving any traces.
Conclusion
The free app from Avast is an excellent antivirus approved by independent testing labs. It is safe to use Avast; however, there are still some concerns about their user data collection practices.
While both Avast is a good free product, in my experience, it does not catch all viruses.
How do I know? I tested them myself along with a dozen other antimalware products. I intentionally downloaded 117 malware samples to find out which software is best in scanning and removing viruses.
Needless to say that I was surprised by my findings. Enough, to say that Avast removed 98.3% of samples after multiple scans.
Avast Antivirus For Mac Review
Only one antivirus product was able to detect and remove 100% samples. Check here to find out which one is the best:
While Macs are less likely to become infected with malware than Windows, they aren't invincible. If you have noticed your Mac behaving strangely, or you just want to be sure your device is clean, maybe it's time to shop around for anti-virus for your Mac. Below you will find a review of anti-malware software Avast based on 6 criteria: protection, effect on device's performance, user interface, extra features, compatibility, and price. These are the most important criteria to take into account when choosing the right anti-virus program for your Mac.
Avast anti-virus for Mac review
Prague-based Avast is one of the most famous cybersecurity companies, and is the developer behind arguably the most popular anti-virus program Avast anti-virus. Avast is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Avast Antivirus For Mac Reviews
Avast is often the primary choice for Mac users because it offers a free version with all essential anti-virus features. It has a large threat database, which allows it to detect all kinds of malware, and great extra features. If you want additional protection, the paid Avast Security Pro is also offered at a good price.
Avast for Mac Pros & Cons
Pros
- Has a fully functional free version available;
- High malware detection rate;
- User-friendly interface;
- Wi-Fi inspector will detect malicious actors on the network.
Cons
- Limited password manager functionality.
Avast protection for Macs
Both the free and the paid versions of Avast Security for Mac provide great protection against all kinds of malware. It will detect both less serious threats like adware and spyware, and highly malicious ones like trojans and even ransomware. Real-time protection will block threats as they are trying to get in, preventing potentially serious damage to your Mac.
In addition to guarding your computer from malware, Avast for Mac will also protect you when you're online. If you were about to enter a phishing or otherwise malicious website, you would immediately be warned about it. It would also prevent you from downloading malicious email attachments.
Additional features Wi-Fi inspector will scan the network you're connected to for malicious activity, and ransomware protection will safeguard your files from encryption by malware. Wi-Fi inspector is a useful feature if you regularly connect to public networks. If someone on the network was behaving in a malicious way, you'd be warned about it. And ransomware protection will essentially prevent unauthorized apps (such as ransomware) from making changes to your folders/files. The default settings will only allow Apple and App store apps to make changes, but you can whitelist additional apps if you wish.
Overall, Avast provides great security for your Mac, whether you choose the free or the paid version.
Effect on device's performance
When an anti-virus program is performing certain tasks, it can consume a lot of system resources. This can temporarily affect the computer in a negative way, resulting in lagging. The negative impact can be very noticeable on older computers, but modern devices cope with the strain much better.
Whether Avast is idly monitoring your computer or performing a full scan, it doesn't severely affect your computer's performance. If you are using an older Mac, your fans may turn on, and you may experience some lag, however. If it bothers you too much, you can schedule system scans for when you're not actively using your Mac.
User interface
A user-friendly interface is highly important for an anti-virus program because a complicated one will discourage users from using it, no matter how great it may be otherwise.
Avast is a very easy to use program, although its design could use some work. All available features are clearly displayed and everything is easily accessible. However, while the interface is simple, the design could be more modern.
Extra features
- Ransomware shield:Included in the Pro version of Avast Security is a feature that will protect your files from ransomware. It will prevent unauthorized changes to your files in certain folders. You can whitelist apps, but only Apple and App Store apps will be authorized by default. So if ransomware got into your computer and tried to encrypt you files, Avast would block it from doing so.
Bear in mind that ransomware for Macs is still pretty rare, but it's still a useful feature to have just in case. - Password Manager:While not included in Avast Security anti-virus, Avast offers a free password manager. You can download it from the official website. It can not only store your passwords, but also your payment information so that you don't have to fill it in every time you buy something online.
- Wi-Fi inspector: The Wi-Fi inspector is available in the Pro version of Avast Security. It will detect and warn you about malicious actors connected to the network. Useful feature if you frequently use public Wi-Fi.
- Avast SecureLine VPN:A virtual private network (VPN) protects your privacy, makes your browsing more secure, and allows you to bypass geo-restrictions. The VPN is not included in the Avast Security, but comes as a separate program. You can purchase a subscription at €59.99/year. There is also a 7-day free trial available.
Compatibility
Avast is compatible with:
- OS X Mavericks,
- OS X Yosemite,
- OS X El Capitan, macOS Sierra,
- macOS High Sierra,
- macOS Mojave.
- Avast also offers protection for iOS.
Price
Avast offers two options for Mac users, a free and a paid one.
- Avast Security. This is the free version of Avast Security for Mac. Despite the fact that it's free, it offers quite a lot of protection. It will detect, block and remove malware, warn you about unsafe websites/email attachments, and scan for Wi-Fi security weaknesses.
- Avast Security Pro. The paid version if offered at €59.99/year/1 Mac. However, at the time of writing, you can get it for €47.99. In addition to all free features, the pro version also gives you real-time Wi-Fi security alerts, and ransomware protection.
Keep in mind that when you subscribe to the program, you sign up for automatic renewal. That means that unless you cancel, you will be billed annually. Oftentimes, users stop using a program but do not cancel the subscription, resulting in them being billed again. Thus, to save yourself and Avast employees time, make sure you cancel your subscription prior to being billed if you no longer wish to use the program.
Verdict
Avast has been in the game for a long time, and has a great reputation. It offers a free Mac version, and it doesn't only provide the most basic features. The free version is actually mostly sufficient to protect your Mac from malware and other threats. However, the Wi-Fi inspector and ransomware protection Pro features are also great.
While it may lack some features that other anti-virus programs have (a personal firewall, parental control), it still is a highly powerful security program with a high malware detection rate. It's also not overly expensive compared to other programs. We definitely recommend at least trying out Avast Security for Mac.
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